132 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



Feb. 23, 1905. 



as it encourages the bees to work well, and the queen to lay almost 

 immediately. Do not use much smoke, either in artificial increase or 

 shalfen swarms. With the latter I prefer to use none at all, as it 

 appears to confuse them, causes balling of the queen, and sometimes 

 causes the shaken swarm to take flight, and thereby cause much 

 delay." 



Two other correspondents give their method of procedure, and all 

 agree in putting the swarm with the queen on a new stand, leaving 

 the brood on the old stand. The difference between that and the com- 

 mon practice here is somewhat radical. The Australian plan divides 

 the colony, putting the swarm on a new stand. The American swarm 

 is left on the old stand. Indeed, it might be said that no swarm is 

 made ; the brood is merely taken away, with few or no bees. The 

 Australian swarm, according to Mr. Burke, " will go to work in a few 

 days, and in a week will be bringing in a surplus of honey "'. The 

 American swarm will go to work immediately, or, rather, will not 

 stop storing. The Australian gathering-force is divided ; the Ameri- 

 can kept together. In a long season may not the divided Australian 

 force do the more gathering* But may not the Australian mother 

 colony swarm again in too many cases? 



Is There a Bee-Supply "Combine" or "Trust"? 



This question was asked of us just recently. Also, we were re- 

 quested to name those manufacturers and dealers who are not in the 

 "combine" or "trust". 



Not being aware that there is a trust or combine among bee- 

 supply manufacturers and dealers, of course we couldn't possibly say 

 who are in it, or not in it. 



While it may be true that the same class or grade of goods is 

 ipriced the same by more than one dealer, it would not necessarily 

 follow that there is a combination or trust. For instance, a certain 

 style of honey-extractor may be priced exactly the same in the cata- 

 logs of several manufacturers and dealers. This might be true, and is 

 true in at least one case, as a certain kind of extractor is made only by 

 one firm and several others handle the same extractor. So, of course, 

 the price on it would be the same in the catalogs of all the firms hand- 

 ling it- 



To readers of the American Bee Journal we would suggest send- 

 ing for the catalogs of all the best firms advertising in it, and then 

 order from the ones that you believe will give you the best and most 

 satisfactory goods for your money. Of course, you might consider 

 distance, as that would likely influence freight-rates a little. 



A good thing to remember is this: Sometimes the cheapest 

 goods at the start are the dearest in the end. 



You pays your money and you takes your choice. So runs an old 



sayi°S- 



iriiscellaneous 

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Mr. F. H. Drexel. one of the leading bee-keepers of western 

 Colorado, called on us a few days ago. His young son was with him. 

 They were on their return journey from Maryland, where they visited 

 Mr. D's old home, which he left some 13 years ago for the great alfalfa 

 honey-fields of Colorado. Mr. Drexel, like some other bee-keepers in 

 hat State, produces honey by the oar-load. 



To Missouri Bee-Keepers.— We have received the following 

 letter from R. A. Holekamp, of St. Louis Co., Mo., with the urgent 

 request that it be published at once, so that Missouri bee-keepers can 

 act upon it in time to accomplish the desired object: 



The Missouri State Bee-Keepers' Association at its convention 

 last September, passed resolutions to introduce to the State legislature 

 at its present session a Bill for the enactment of a foul brood law and 

 the appointment of an inspector of apiaries. 



In both branches of the legislature now in session at Jefferson 

 City, has been introduced a Bill for the appointment by tne Missouri 

 State Board of Agriculture of a State inspector of apiaries to aid and 

 assist in the development and protection of the honey industry, and 

 especially for the eradication of an infectious disease known as foul 



The Bill has been drawn up with care, and will, when passed, be a 

 great help to the honey-producers of Missouri. So it is of importance 

 that every bee-keeper in this State, who has the welfare of the honey 

 industry at heart, write to the Representative from bis county, and 



Senator from his district, or any other member of our legislature he 

 may be acquainted with, at once, urging him to work and vote for the 

 passage of this Bill. 



If these letters come in at Jefferson City in large numbers, they 

 will show that the bee-keepers want this Bill passed, and it will also 

 show that the bee-keeping industry of Missouri is of some importance. 



There are in Missouri, according to the United States Census of 

 1900, 41,145 bee-farms, with 205,110 colonies of bees. It produced in 

 the year 1903 over 6,000,000 pounds of honey, which shows that Mis- 

 souri is one of the great honey-producing States of the Union. 



It is necessary that the bee-keepers who will assist in getting the 

 Bill passed shall write the letters to the members of our legislature 

 without delay, as the hearing of the committee on the Bill will be be- 

 fore may days. 



Let all progressive bee-keepers unite their efforts and work for 

 the passage of this Bill, and thus get the assistance of our State Board 

 of Agriculture in developing the bee-keeping industry, and protecting 

 our apiaries against infectious diseases which are now spreading over 

 the State. Robt. A. Holekamp, 



Assistant Secretary Missouri State Bee-Keepers'' Association. 



The Humming of the Bees. 



BY EARRY LATHROP. 



There's a deal o' solid comfort — 

 Call it nonsense if you please — 



In that pleasant homelike music — 

 Just the humming of the bees. 



Though we sport in winter weather 



With the cold and with the snow ; 

 Though we sit by cosy firesides 



Where the cheerful embers glow. 

 While we read our books and journals. 



Lay our plans and take our ease. 

 Still we long to hear the music 



Of the humming of the bees. 



When the fragrant apple-blossoms 



Hang in clusters pink and white; 

 When the plum-trees by the roadside 



Almost dazzle with their light ; 

 When the gentle summer breezes 



Murmur soft among the trees — 

 It is then we hear the music 



Of the humming of the bees. 



Crawford Co. 



Wis. 



H. K. Beecham, of Grand Traverse Co., Mich., called on us last 

 week. He has been a bee-keeper since 18"9, and has taken this Jour- 

 nal for the same length of time. He put 64 colonies of bees into win- 

 ter quarters last fall, from which he harvested about 5000 pounds of 

 honey, mostly extracted. Mr. B. has no trouble to dispose of all his 

 crop either in his home market or near home. 



Our Advertisers, as a class, we believe can not be excelled for 

 reliability and square dealing. We invite our readers to patronize 

 them as generously as are your needs. Please do not fail to mention 

 having seen their advertisements in the American Bee Journal when 

 writing to any of our advertisers. It will help both them and us, and 

 so both they and we will greatly appreciate such mention. 



To Illinois Bee-Keepers. — Secretary Stone, of the Illinois 

 State Bee-Keepers' Association, desires that at least our Illinois sub- 

 scribers shall read the following : 



The secretary of the Illinois State Bee-Keepers' Association gets 

 numerous letters (so many in fact that he can not give them personal 

 answers) like these: 



"I keep only a few bees, and it would not pay me to belong to 

 the State and National Associations." 



"What are the benefits to be derived from being a member of 

 your Association?" 



" I have only a few bees, and I can find a home market for all my 

 honey ; there is no foul brood in my part of the State, and I do not 

 need to advertise, so what benefit would I get from belonging to the 

 State and National Associations?" 



As secretary of the State Association, and a member of the execu- 

 tive committee, I just want to put a few questions to the men who 

 are the writers of such letters as are quoted above. 



Have you ever taken a thought of what the Illinois State Associa- 

 tion has been trying to do from year to year ever since its organiza- 

 tion, to make it profitable for you to keep your " few colonies " of 

 bees? and to keep out all diseases of bees, that it may be made ^ossi'fife 

 for you to keep them ? 



Have you ever thought of our efforts, combined with those of the 

 National and the bee-papers, to put down the adulterators of honey 

 that have flooded the market, and thus make it possible for you to sell 

 your honey without a suspicion of its being adulterated? 

 ■ Do you know that we have secured to the State Association a foul 

 brood law the past two years, and have strong promise of one for the 



